Flying-machine.



FLYING MACHINE.

'APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1917.

DAVIS.

' Patented Mar. 11,1919.

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W. I. DAVIS.

' mums MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. I917- Patented M51 11,1919.

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WILLIAM I. DAVIS, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSA S, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T EMIL A. VOGEL, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

Application filed January 16, 1917. Serial No. 142,691.

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to aerial crafts, and particularly to that of the heavier than air type.

It is an objectof the 'presentinvention to provide an air craft of aeroplane type with elevating means for' raising the craft vertically and directly from'the ground, and to thus obviate the necessity of the usuallaunching run along the ground to produce the required pressure of air beneath the supporting plane for lifting the, craft, the means A being adapted to also sustain the craft substantially at rest at various elevations in the air for observation work, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the air craft with elevating and sustaining means at each side, and at each end, and to so connect these means that the same will actas a stabilizer for the craft, and maintain it in upright position at all times, and under varying air pressure an load conditions.

The invention still further aims at the provision of a light, safe and easily controlled craft adapted for carrying heavy loads, and being adaptable for passenger,

pleasure, freight and observation use, and

particularly for use in warfare.

The bove, and other objects and advantages of this invention will bebrought out more specifically in the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane of the biplane, type, the samebeing v constructed in accordance with the present invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through the craft,,the rear end of the same being broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the craft. Fig. 4 is a detail, enlarged, horizontal'sectional view of the gear connection'betw'een the elevating devices, the view showing the underside of the same. 1

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the elevating devices.

Fig. 6 is a vertlcal central section, en-

larged, taken through the same.

Fig. 7 is a detail fragmentary view of the lower end of one of the elevating devices, showing the adjustable shutter for controlling the passage of air through the casing of the device.

Fig. 8 is afragmentary sectional view of the lower end ofthe casing. of one of the raising devices, enlarged, showing the mounting and connection of the louver blinds which comprise the shutters.

Referring to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by similar numerals of reference throughout the several views, the

invention is disclosedas being embodied in an aeroplane of the biplane type, wherein the upper and lower supporting planes 10 and 11 are substantially V-shaped, and are secured in vertically spaced-apart relation by means of struts 13. The angled corners of the planes 10 and 11 constitute the forward end of the air craft, and the rear ends of the planes are interbraced and connected together by means of transversely extending brace bars 12. The body of the air craft is therefore given substantially triangular shape, the apex of the triangle constituting the forward end thereof. The usual supporting wheels 14: may be provided upon the three corners of the frame, in order to support the same and permit of the easy manipulation of the machine when on the ground.

The lower plane 11' is provided with a platform 15 upon which a car or other suitable passenger or freight-carrying device may be mounted, the platform '15 being arranged intermediate the ends of-the body, and the rear end of the bodv being provided with a base orplatform 16 .upon which a suitable engine or motor 17 may be mounted for driving'the craft. The brace bars 12 at the rear endof the body are provided. in

the usual manner, with a pair of propellers 18 which are connected bv a chain 19, or the like, to the motor 17. If desired, a'clutch 19 inay be interposed'between the motor 17 and the propellers 18 for disengaging the latter from the motor and permitting the motor to run independently of therpropellers.

A verticalsha'ft 20 mounted in the body wardly forwardly of the motor 17, and is connected thereto by bevel gears 21, or the like. The shaft 20 is provided with a large bevel gear 22, with Which mesh a plurality of pinions 23 which are mounted upon shafts 2 1 which extend toward the corners of the body and are geared, as at 25, to elevator shafts 26. Clutches 27 are interposed in each shaft 241 and have connection by means of rods 28 with hand .levers 29 mounted upon a platform 30 arranged over the motor 17.

Each elevating device comprises a pair of conical sections or casings 31 which are relatively short, and flare abruptly from top to bottom. The enlarged base ends of the cas ings 31 open downwardly through the top and'bottom planes 10 and 11, and are arranged in vertical registry for receiving the "opposite ends of the shaft 26. Each shaft 26 is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 32 which are arranged within the casings 31.

7 Each casing 31 is provided with a spirallyformed propeller 33 which corresponds to the upwardly tapering formation of the easing, and which is adapted to fit snugly therein. The lower ends of the casing 31 are closed by a plurality of transversely pivoted shutters or louver blinds connected at their lower edges to an operating rod 34. The blinds, indicated at 35, are adapted to overlap when swung into substantially horizontal position and to thus close the passage upwardly through the casing 31. The .rods 34 ofeach pair of elevators are connected by means of branch rods 36, to a handle 37 arranged adjacent to the platform 15 and adapted to be moved horizontally to shift theshutters 35.

The craft is provided, in the usual manner, with the horizontally disposed tiltable planes or rudders 38 which are carried horizontally at the rear end of the craft for deflectingthe latter into various horizontal planes. The craft is also provided with a vertically disposed rudder 39 which is located in theusual manner intermediate the lateral edges of the planes 38 and which is adaptedfto be swung into various positions for controlling the lateral movements of the craft. Y

In operation, the craft into. the air, it isonly necessary to operate the shaft 20 by the motor 17, and to adjust the clutches 27 for driving the shafts V 24. The turning of theshafts 24rotates the vertically disposed elevating shafts 26, and

V the latter turn the spirally-formed propellers 33 in each of the h V are so. arranged that the blades 33 are turned casings 31. The gears 111 a' direction to forcea draft of air down- .through the casings 31, thus creating anair-pressure beneath theplanes 10 and a air 'cra'ft. The a 165 11, a nd effecting the'yertical recoil of the. V provlsion of the casings. 31- forms a means for providing-a direct strong when it is desiredto raise plane provided 'witlt the current of'air downwardly, and asithis current of air is produced at each corner of the machine, the latter is raised uniformly at both ends and at both sides. This action of the propeller 33 may be regulated not only by the speed of the motor 17, but also by the adjustment of the shutters 35.

After the desired height has been at tained, the clutch 19 may be thrown into operation so as to drive the propellers 18 and thus convey the craft horizontally through the air. At this time, may be disconnected from the motor 17, and the shutters 35 closed so that the device may glide through the air inthe usual manner of aeroplanes, the casings 31 serving as air bells or pockets to receive a large volume of air therein for equalizing or stabilizing the craft during its gliding movement.

Should the motor 17 become inoperative while in flight, the clutches 27 and 19-may be adjusted to interlock the elevating propellers 33 with the propellers 18. ing of the body at this time produces upward currents of air under considerable the elevators The fallthe blinds 35 are open, the propellers 33. are driven at a rapid rate of speed so as to drive the shafts 24 and operate the propellers 18 through the engine or motor 17 as the connection. Thus a certain gliding movement will be given to the body during its descent and a safe landing may be made, the machine being under control of the operator to a great extent. VVhen'the propellers 18 areoperated by the rotation of the propel lers 33, the lever 21 is operated to shift the gear. 21 into the vertical miter gear 21, to rotate the propellers18 in the' same direction in which they are rotated by the operation of the engine and to impart aforward gliding movement to the flying machine.

Stabilization maybe effected by relieving blades 33 are stationary,

an" to pass: upwardly against the larger lower end of the bladei33. The air is compressed into thereduced upper end of the casing, is impacted against the smallerend of the through the. reduced upper. open end of'the casing in a whirling reduced stream.

It is of coursexunderstood.that various changes and modifications may be. made in blade33, and is finally discharged the detailsof construction!ofth'elabovespecifically described air ing from; the spirit of: the invention, thisbeing restricted on-ly'by the scope of the following claims.

11 claim: 7

, 1. Inan air craft, the combinationofa bicraft withoutdepartp usual propellingjlto means, ofpairs of vertically alined elevating propellers one of which is arranged in each plane ofsaid biplane, and means for driving each pair of propellers as a unit.

2. In an air craft, the combination of a biplane, vertically alining openeended casings opening through the opposite ends and sides of the planes of said biplane, spiral blades mounted in the castings, and means for turning said blades simultaneously to create vertical currents of air through said planes at the opposite sides and ends thereof.

3. In an air craft, the combination of a biplane, vertical open-ended casings opening through the opposite ends and sides of the planes of said biplane, air current creating propellers arranged in said casings, and means for simultaneously driving all of said propellers to equalize the air pressure beneath the opposite ends and sides of the planes and to compensate for variations in loads and pressure therebeneath.

4. In an air craft, the combination of a biplane, of a plurality of vertically alining open-ended casings opening through the opposite ends and sides of the planes of said biplane, air current creating propellers ar ranged in said casings, means for driving said propellers to elevate and sustain said planes in the air, and adjustable shutters carried by said casings for controlling the air current therethrough.

5. In an air craft, the combination of a pair of vertically spaced-apart planes substantially triangular in shape, an elevating device arranged at each corner of the planes, and means connecting said elevating devices to actuate the same simultaneouslv for equalizing the pressure beneath each corner of each plane.

6. In an air craft, the combination of a body comprising vertically-spaced-apart triangular frames, an elevating device at each corner of each frame, means connecting the adjacent elevating devices together, and means for simultaneously operating all of said elevating devices to drive the same as a unit and to equalize the air pressure at the opposite ends and opposite sides of the body.

7. In an air craft, the combination of a biplane provided with the usual propelling means, of pairs of vertically alined elevating propellers one of which is arranged in each plane of the biplane, open ended upwardly tapering casings surrounding said propellers, and adjustable means positioned at the lower ends of said casings for regulating the quantity of air passing therethrough.

8. In an air craft, the combination of a biplane provided with the usual propelling means, of pairs of verticallyalined elevating propellers one of each pair of which is arranged in each lane of the biplane, means for simultaneously guiding all of said propellers to equalize the air pressure beneath the opposite ends and sides of the planes and to compensate for variations in loads'and pressure therebeneath, and means controlling the driving ofsaid propellers whereby any alining pair may be driven independently. of the other propellers.

9. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes substantially triangular in shape, pairs of vertically alined elevating propellers arranged at each corner of the planes, one of each pair of which is carried by each plane of thebiplane, means for simultaneously driving all of said propellers to equalize the air pressure beneath the opposite ends and sides of the planes and to compensate for variations in loads and pressure therebeneath.

10. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes substantially triangular in shape, pairs of vertically alined elevating propellers arranged at each corner of the lanes, one of each pair of which is carried by each plane of the biplane, means for simultaneously driving all of said propellers to equalize the air pressure beneath the opposite ends and sides of the planes and to compensate for variations in loads and pressure therebeneath, and means controlling the driving of said propellers whereby any alining pair may be driven independently of the other propellers.

11. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes substantially triangular in shape, pairs of vertically alined elevating propellers arranged at each corner of the planes, one of each pair of which is carried by each plane of the biplane, means for simultaneously driving all of said propellers to equalize the air pressure beneath the opposite ends and sides of the planes and to compensate for variations in loads and pressure therebeneath, means controlling the driving of said propellers whereby any alining pair may be driven independently of the other propellers, open ended upwardly tapering casings surrounding said propellers, and adjustable means positioned at the lower ends of said casings for regulating the quantity of air from passing therethrough.

12. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes sub stantially triangular in shape, vertical open ended upwardly tapering casings arranged at each corner of the lanes in alining pairs, spiral bladed propellers rotatable within said casings and means connecting said spiral propellers to rotate them simultaneously for equalizing the pressure beneath each corner of each plane.

13. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes substantially triangular in shape, vertical open at each corner of the planes in alining pairs,

- sp-ira1 bladed propellers rotatable Within said ca's'ings and means connecting said spira'l propellers to rotate them simultaneously forequ'alizing the pressure beneath each corner-breach plane, and means for controlling the rotation of said propellers whereby any ali-nin g pair may be driven independently of the other propellers.

14. In an air craft, the combination, of a pair of vertically spaced apart planes substantially triangular in shape, vertical open ended upwardly tapering casings arranged at each corner of the lanes in alining pairs,

Copies of this patent-may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the spiral bladed propellers rotatable Within said casings and means connecting said spiral'prop'elle'rs to rotate them simultaneously for equalizing the pressure beneath each corner of each plane, means for controlling the rotation of said propellers whereby any alining pair may be driven independently of the other propellers, and louver blinds positioned at the lower ends of said casings for regulating the quantity of air passing therethrough. I

WILLIAM L DAVIS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

